Seven Britons arrested in Andalusia after police seize 1.2 tonnes of hashish

‘National police working with Britain’s National Crime Agency have dismantled a ring in Marbella and Elche suspected of trafficking drugs in lorries,’ the interior ministry said in a statement.

‘The officers have seized 1,200 kg of hashish and detained seven British citizens,’ it said.

The haul was discovered in the tourist resorts of Marbella and Fuengirola, which have large British populations, and in the southeastern city of Elche.

Some of the drugs were hidden in ‘large plastic containers filled with builders’ sand’, the ministry said.

They were transporting the drug in ‘large tonnage trucks, hidden inside drums and other legal cargo, to other European countries, mainly to the United Kingdom’, the statement said.

‘Searches were carried out on a property in Elche that the organisation used as a “nursery” – where the narcotic substance was found – and in three homes in Marbella and Fuengirola, where “samples” of hashish with the same anagrams were seized,’ it added.

Police also seized more than €63,000 in cash, five people carriers and a large lorry. In addition to the cash seized, bank accounts worth more than €40,000 were blocked. The seven Britons arrested have been remanded in custody.

Spain is a major gateway to Europe for cannabis resin manufactured in North Africa. Nearly 325 tonnes of hashish were seized in Spain in 2022, according to the latest available official data.

🚩Incautados a una organización dedicada al tráfico internacional de #drogas 1.200 kg de #hachís ocultos en bidones

🚔7 detenidos en #Marbella y #Elche
👉Organización integrada por ciudadanos #británicos

Registros en una finca de #Elche que la organización utilizaba como… pic.twitter.com/TRd0ggi29A

— Policía Nacional (@policia) November 16, 2024